March 2, 2014
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By Nate Blythe
UCFKnights.com
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ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - UCF freshman designated player Lena Springer notched her first collegiate hit, a two-run homer, to cap the Knights 5-1 victory over SIUE on Saturday night at the UCF Softball Complex. College of Charleston registered a 1-0 win in the first game on a solo homer in the fifth by Kelsey Hodgson.
In the circle, sophomore Shelby Turnier (6-1) threw a three hit, 10 strikeout complete game against SIUE (5-13). The Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., native matched the performance that junior Mackenzie Audas had against CofC (11-7), where she yielded just two hits and fanned 10.
Multi-hit games were tallied by junior second baseman Kahley Novak and sophomore catcher Samantha McCloskey, who also gunned down a pair of runners on the base paths. UCF (10-7) totaled 12 hits on the day and registered seven in the night cap.
The Knights return to action on Wednesday hosting Boston College and Jacksonville beginning at 1:30 p.m. The Holiday Inn Tournament wraps up on Sunday with CofC vs. UT Martin at 10 a.m. and Princeton vs. SIUE at noon.
Game One: College of Charleston 1, UCF 0
Despite a two-hitter and 10 strikeouts from Audas, the Knights fell to CofC, 1-0, on a solo homer by Kelsey Hodgson to start the fifth. UCF had the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh, but were unable to come up with the walk-off win.
The Knights out-hit CofC, 5-2, with Novak registering a pair of base knocks.
Hope Klicker for the Cougars earned the five-hit shutout to improve to 6-6 on the year, while notching eight strikeouts.
The Knights pressured in the fourth as freshman shortstop Brittany Solis reached on an error and junior outfielder Mariah Garcia doubled into the left center gap. The bases were filled with two outs after McCloskey was plunked by a pitch. Klicker responded with a strikeout to retire the side.
To leadoff the fifth, Hodgson delivered the first hit for CofC, a solo shot for the only run of the game.
The rally in the seventh for the Knights started with McCloskey singling down the left field line. Sophomore pinch hitter Taylor Wagner forced a runner into scoring position after being hit by a pitch.
UCF loaded the bases with two outs when Novak beat out an infield base hit before a groundout ended the game.
Game Two: UCF 5, SIUE 1
A three-hitter was tossed by Turnier as the Knights clung to a 2-1 lead before scoring three times in the sixth, which included the first homer of the season for the squad by Springer in her third career at bat.
After the Cougars took the lead on two bunt singles and a wild pitch in the first, UCF answered by using the ground game. Novak singled to the pitcher on a bunt and stole second. A wide throw by the shortstop put Goodman on the base paths.
With one out and a pair of runners in scoring position, a squeeze play by McCloskey tied the game up before an errant throw on a stolen base attempt put the Knights on top, 2-1.
Following a walk issued to junior third baseman Farrah Sullivan, Solis singled up the middle to put runners on the corners to start the fourth. SIUE was able to get out of the jam without any further damage done.
The second hit for McCloskey, a double to right center, started the UCF rally in the sixth. She scored on an RBI ground out by Sullivan. Wagner kept the inning alive with a two-out double over the head of the center fielder.
Springer came up and worked a 3-2 count before driving a pitch over the fence in left. It was the first hit for the freshman and the first home run for the Knights as a team.